Adjustable flow control systems

Abstract

Disclosed examples including calculating a fluid property of a fluid flow to satisfy a flow performance metric based on an outlet of a mass-flux device; iteratively calculating different areas for the outlet of the mass-flux device and determining whether a fluid source is able to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the different areas; and after determining that the fluid source is able to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on one of the areas, controlling a variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to establish the one of the areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a mass-flux device; and   a controller configured to:
 calculate a fluid property of a fluid flow to satisfy a flow performance metric based on a first area of an outlet of the mass-flux device; 
 after determining that a fluid source is unable to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the first area, calculate a second area of the outlet of the mass-flux device to satisfy the flow performance metric; and 
 after determining that the fluid source is able to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the second area, control a variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to establish the second area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow performance metric is a target momentum ratio. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is to control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device after a change in at least one of a flight speed, a temperature, a pressure, or a mass flow rate. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is a compressor configured to generate the fluid flow. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a sensor in communication with the controller, the controller to:
 access an operating condition of an aircraft based on the sensor; and   control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device after a change in the operating condition.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a second mass-flux device arranged adjacent to the mass-flux device on a control surface, the controller to control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to establish the second area to be different from a third area of a second outlet of the second mass-flux device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is to control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to create a total exit area based on the second area of the outlet of the mass-flux device and the third area of the second outlet of the second mass-flux device. 
     
     
         8 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising computer-readable instructions to cause programmable circuitry to at least:
 calculate a fluid property of a fluid flow to satisfy a flow performance metric based on a first area of an outlet of a mass-flux device;   after determining that a fluid source is unable to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the first area, calculate a second area of the outlet of the mass-flux device to satisfy the flow performance metric; and   after determining that the fluid source is able to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the second area, control a variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to establish the second area.   
     
     
         9 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , wherein the flow performance metric is a target momentum ratio. 
     
     
         10 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are to cause the programmable circuitry to control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device after a change in at least one of a flight speed, a temperature, a pressure, or a mass flow rate. 
     
     
         11 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are to cause the programmable circuitry to determine that the fluid source is unable to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the first area by determining that a compressor is unable to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the first area. 
     
     
         12 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are to cause the programmable circuitry to:
 access an operating condition of an aircraft based on a sensor in communication with the programmable circuitry; and   control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device after a change in the operating condition.   
     
     
         13 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are to cause the programmable circuitry to control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to establish the second area to be different from a third area of a second outlet of a second mass-flux device arranged adjacent to the mass-flux device on a control surface. 
     
     
         14 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are to cause the programmable circuitry to control the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to create a total exit area that includes a sum of the second area of the outlet of the mass-flux device and the third area of the second outlet of the second mass-flux device. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 calculating, by programmable circuitry programmed by at least one instruction, a fluid property of a fluid flow to satisfy a flow performance metric based on an outlet of a mass-flux device;   iteratively calculating, by the programmable circuitry, different areas for the outlet of the mass-flux device and determining whether a fluid source is able to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the different areas; and   after determining that the fluid source is able to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on one of the areas, controlling, by the programmable circuitry, a variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device to establish the one of the areas.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the flow performance metric is a target momentum ratio. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controlling of the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device is performed after a change in at least one of a flight speed, a temperature, a pressure, or a mass flow rate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , including determining that the fluid source is unable to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on another one of the areas by determining that a compressor is unable to generate the fluid flow to match the fluid property based on the another one of the areas. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , including:
 accessing an operating condition of an aircraft based on a sensor in communication with the programmable circuitry; and   controlling the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device after a change in the operating condition.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controlling of the variable geometry of the outlet of the mass-flux device is to establish the one of the areas to be different from a second area of a second outlet of a second mass-flux device arranged adjacent to the mass-flux device on a control surface.